A Ghanaian social media influencer stole over $2 million (about Sh274.3 million) from elderly, single American men and women in a twisted lonely hearts scam. She has been extradited from the United Kingdom to the United States.
Mona Faiz Montrage, 30, of Accra, Ghana, appeared in federal court in Manhattan on Monday for her suspected involvement in a series of romance schemes aimed at elderly persons who lived alone, according to authorities.
Montrage, who has around 3.4 million Instagram followers on her page Hajia4Reall at one point, was involved with a group of con artists from West Africa who used emails, texts, and social media messages to trick people into thinking they were in relationships with them from at least 2013 to 2019.
She was arrested in the United Kingdom on November 10, 2022, and was extradited from the United Kingdom on May 12, 2023.
FBI Assistant Director in Charge Michael J. Driscoll said: “We alleged today that Ms. Montrage participated in multiple romance scams – often targeting elderly victims – resulting in more than $2 million in fraudulent funds under her control. Romance scams – especially those that target older individuals – are of major concern. The FBI will be tireless in our efforts to hold fraudsters accountable in the criminal justice system.”
According to court documents, the scammers would persuade victims to wire money to them under false pretenses, such as helping them to smuggle gold to the US from overseas, resolving fraudulent FBI investigations and payments to support nonexistent US Army officers.
Montrage allegedly deceived a victim into transferring her $89,000 over 82 wire transfers under the guise of supporting her father’s farm in Ghana, according to court filings.
Montrage also received money from several others who were swindled by scammers in her network, prosecutors allege. In total, Montrage netted $2 million in funds the group ripped off from victims to bank accounts she had in the Bronx and elsewhere, including one opened in the name of 4Reall Designs, a supposed clothing company.
She then allegedly laundered the stolen money to other members of the enterprise, the indictment charges.
“As alleged, Mona Faiz Montrage was a member of a criminal conspiracy that specifically targeted older Americans through romance scams,” Manhattan US Attorney Damian Williams said in a statement. “These scams can be both financially and emotionally devastating for vulnerable victims.”
“Thanks to the efforts of our law enforcement partners, Montrage was arrested abroad and has been brought to the United States to face justice,” the statement continued.
Montrage pleaded not guilty during her court appearance and was set to be released on home detention to her aunt’s New Jersey residence in the coming days on $500,000 bond, with GPS tracking via an ankle monitor, her lawyer and the prosecutor’s office confirmed.
“At this time all we know is that there are six alleged victims and only two dealt with a woman and only one of them claims that he dealt with Ms. Montrage,” her attorney, Adam Cortez, told The Post:163
